In a press launch on Saturday the Group for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) mentioned Director-Basic Fernando Arias and his crew had met interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa and caretaker International Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani, at their invitation – drawing a line beneath “11 years of obstruction” by the Assad regime, which was pushed from energy in early December.
The conferences have been described as lengthy, productive, and open, with an in-depth trade of data. This dialogue goals to interrupt the lengthy stalemate over use of the banned weapons throughout Syria’s brutal civil battle, and obtain tangible outcomes.
Optimistic first step
This go to marks step one in re-establishing a direct working relationship between the OPCW Technical Secretariat and Syria.
Discussions centered on Syria’s obligations beneath the Chemical Weapons Conference (CWC), the OPCW’s position and mandate, and the help the Technical Secretariat can present to eradicate the remnants of Syria’s chemical weapons programme.
“This go to marks a reset. After eleven years of obstruction by the earlier authorities, the Syrian caretaker authorities have an opportunity to show the web page and meet Syria’s obligations beneath the Conference,” mentioned Director-Basic Arias.
“My presence in Damascus displays the OPCW’s dedication to rebuilding a relationship primarily based on mutual belief and transparency. For over a decade, Syria’s chemical weapons file was at a impasse. At the moment, we should seize this chance collectively and break that deadlock for the nice of the Syrian individuals and the worldwide group.”
Failure to confirm
Since 2013, Syria’s declaration of its chemical weapons programme has been incomplete, with important portions of outlawed weaponry unaccounted for.
Mr. Arias emphasised the OPCW’s readiness to work with Syria’s transitional authorities to handle these open questions and implement its duties to regain good standing throughout the organisation.
He offered the Secretariat’s nine-point Motion Plan for Syria to the interim President and caretaker International Minister.
Dedication to Assist
The Director-Basic reiterated the OPCW’s dedication to help the nation and convey it again into compliance as a member state.
By doing so, the caretaker authorities will safeguard the Syrian individuals, maintain accountable any recognized perpetrators of chemical weapons use, and bolster the nation’s repute as a dependable and trusted member of the worldwide group.
“This go to lays the bottom for working collectively in the direction of closing the Syrian chemical weapons file for good and fostering long-term compliance, regional stability, and contributing to peace and worldwide safety,” mentioned Mr. Arias.
Questions raised
Syria grew to become a State Get together to the CWC and a Member State of the OPCW in October 2013. A joint OPCW-UN mission in cooperation with the previous Syrian authorities led to the elimination and verifiable destruction of all declared chemical weapons.
Nonetheless, questions concerning the accuracy and completeness of Syria’s preliminary declaration have continued.
The OPCW Motion Plan, primarily based on the Technical Secretariat’s intensive expertise, outlines the following steps: drawing a list of web sites, tools, munitions, chemical compounds, paperwork, individuals, and services; declaring all parts of the Syrian chemical weapons programme; and making certain its verifiable elimination.
Lengthy-term compliance with the CWC shall be established by bolstered cooperation.
Groundwork for achievement
Because the implementing physique for the Chemical Weapons Conference, the OPCW, with its 193 Member States goals to completely eradicate chemical weapons.
Because the Conference’s entry into power in 1997, it has been probably the most profitable disarmament treaty on document, eliminating a whole class of weapons of mass destruction.
In 2023, the watchdog verified that each one chemical weapons stockpiles declared by the 193 States Events to the CWC since 1997 have been irreversibly destroyed beneath the OPCW’s strict verification regime.
For its intensive efforts in eliminating chemical weapons, the OPCW acquired the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize.
